Moving to a culture of health

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has called for the nation to consider ways to establish a culture of health. Disruptive changes in nursing education are needed, ones that enhance nurses' views of societal needs as the core of clinical practice. A culture of health will require leadership. This leadership needs to be similar to the ways early nurse leaders identified care gaps and acted in society's best interests. A radical transformation in students nurses' education, including the curricula, and content will be needed. This article raises questions and suggests ideas about the disruptive changes needed for education and practice. If nurses are to be full partners in building a culture of health then some traditions must be relinquished and new forward thinking perspectives about nurses' roles must be taken.